Returning captain Ben Stokes insisted he had been “man enough” to apologise to his England teammates after missing the last Test for breaching a curfew.
Boston Celtics Daily Links 6/24/26
HeraldCeltics’ Derrick White hired as president of basketball strategy at alma mater
Will Celtics trade Jaylen Brown? Brad Stevens won’t ‘predict the future’
Celtics draft Houston big man Chris Cenac Jr. with 27th overall pick
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Report: Derrick White named Colorado President of Basketball Strategy
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What ESPN’s Bobby Marks thinks will happen with Jaylen Brown after Giannis flop
Jaylen Brown’s brother Quenton posts intriguing video in wake of failed Giannis pursuit
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Round 2 NBA mock draft: Where will Meleek Thomas, Isaiah Evans land?
Brad Stevens says he was honest with Jaylen Brown before leak of Giannis interest
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Boston Sports JournalBSJ Live Coverage: 2026 NBA Draft second round, Celtics have pick No. 40
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ESPN Stephen A. puts blame on Jaylen Brown amid trade discussions
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Jaylen Brown lashes out at Stephen A. Smith, calls ESPN 'unethical'
Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown criticized Stephen A. Smith and ESPN for their coverage of his recent comments, calling the network "unethical" as part of an appearance at the Sports Beach Cannes event in France on Wednesday, June 24.
Brown was a featured speaker on a panel called, "The Spiritual Game" during the annual conference, which bills itself as "a global platform connecting brands, athletes and marketers through lived experiences." Footage of his comments, which come in the midst of speculation about his future with the Celtics after being included in Giannis Antetokounmpo trade talks, began to circulate on social media via an incomplete clip.
The initial question, beginning of Brown's answer and the end of his answer are not included. But based on what Brown can be heard saying, his response is related to the "favorite year" comments that raised eyebrows around the league at the end of Boston's 2025-26 campaign in which Brown starred mostly without an injured Jayson Tatum.
"The leader behind that was ESPN. ESPN is unethical, and Stephen A. Smith is the head face of that," Brown said in the viral soundbite of his answer. "But, you know, the organization, the players, they were all in agreeance, they all knew what I meant by that. Our team was basically salary dumped. We lost a lot of players and for us to emerge and still be in the same position, we got to start to understand success doesn't always mean ..."
That's where the clip of Brown's remarks cuts off.
Brown's "favorite year" comments occurred on his Twitch stream after the Celtics were eliminated from the 2026 NBA playoffs by the Philadelphia 76ers. Though Smith has been vocal in his criticism of Brown at times, he did not appear to have a problem with what Brown said during a segment on ESPN's First Take. He called the reference "no big deal" and noted Brown is being "candid with how he feels."
Jaylen Brown in Cannes at Sport Beach today speaking on the situation ❗️ pic.twitter.com/VroszzyV7c
— vic (@CountOnVic) June 24, 2026
"I'm so proud of this group and the way we played," Brown said on the Twitch stream last month. "I wish we trusted that style of play a little bit more, and playoffs kind of shifted our rotations and what we wanted to do. But I'm so proud, and it was my favorite year of my basketball career."
Brown was a 2026 NBA MVP finalist after the best season of his career, but he's now been dangled by the Celtics in prominent trade discussions twice in four years. He was also mentioned as a trade possibility in 2022 when Boston pursued Kevin Durant.
Celtics General Manager Brad Stevens praised Brown when he met with reporters late Tuesday following the end of the 2026 NBA Draft first round, but he declined to discuss the Antetokounmpo negotiations.
Though Stevens noted he met with Brown multiple times this offseason, including before the Celtics star went on his current overseas trip, he hedged when addressing if Brown would be on the team's next season.
"Jaylen Brown's a big part of us," Stevens said. "I'm never going to predict the future, but every indication, everything that I think about over the past few years has been building around those guys, right, and so obviously you never know. But at the same time, the one thing I want to make very clear is how valued he's always been. He's been amazing, he's been an amazing teammate, a great person to be around.
"And whether that run ends 10 years from now when he retires or before," Stevens continued, "there's a lot to celebrate and we have a great relationship and an open relationship, where we talk about everything. But I don't want to predict the future. But I look at it as this is our team."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Celtics' Jaylen Brown blasts Stephen A. Smith, ESPN as 'unethical'
San Diego gets huge series win, going for sweep over Atlanta
The San Diego Padres have looked resurgent lately. After losing consecutive series to the St. Louis Cardinals and the Texas Rangers, the Friars reeled off a quick series victory against the Atlanta Braves. But, despite winning the series in just two games, each win was a battle.
San Diego reeled off a 1-0 victory against Atlanta in the series opener. They did so on the backs of a Manny Machado solo shot and Michael King’s seven scoreless innings. Last night, the club battled back from a four-run deficit in the second inning to win the game, 7-6, in extras.
The Padres have finally shown some fight after floundering for the last few weeks. They’ll need to keep that momentum in order to sweep Atlanta tonight, and to face the rival Los Angeles Dodgers in their upcoming series.
Taking the mound
Martín Pérez (ATL) v. JP Sears (SD)
The former Padre was picked up on a minor league deal with the Braves, and was called up after injuries plagued Atlanta’s rotation. Pérez has surged with the Braves, posting a career-best 2.78 ERA through 68 innings.
But Pérez has struggled a bit recently. He’s still been good (3.27 ERA in last seven starts), but it hasn’t been the same dominance displayed in the start of the season.
Sears, on the other hand, has yet to find a groove at the big-league level. The lefty was recalled from Triple-A in a corresponding move after starter Lucas Giolito hit the 15-day IL with right elbow inflammation.
He hasn’t posted great numbers in the minors this season (7.92 ERA, 63.2 IP), but it’s important to remember that the Padres’ Triple-A affiliate plays in the Pacific Coast League. The PCL is known for its hitter-friendly environs, which has certainly affected Sears. It’s impossible to say how he’ll fare tonight against Atlanta because of that.
Batter up!
After struggling to score in a major way, the offense has finally clicked. The club has scored 30 runs in their last six games. Their approach at the plate looks much more lively than it has in a while, and it’s working for them.
- Fernando Tatis Jr., 2B
- Samad Taylor, RF
- Jackson Merrill, CF
- Manny Machado, 3B
- Gavin Sheets, LF
- Xander Bogaerts, SS
- Ty France, 1B
- Miguel Andujar, DH
- Freddy Fermin, C
Fermin was activated yesterday after being on concussion protocol for the last week. Blake Hunt was sent back down to Triple-A in a corresponding move. He’ll likely start in order to give Rodolfo Durán a day off.
The stars have finally started raking for San Diego. Machado, Merrill and Tatis have looked like themselves at the plate again. It’s proved that the Padres will go as far as that trio can take them.
Relief corps
Starter Griffin Canning had Wandy Peralta as an opener in Tuesday night’s game. Peralta pitched a fantastic first inning before giving way to Canning. Unfortunately, the strategy didn’t work nearly as well as it did in Canning’s last start. The righty lasted only 2/3 of an inning before being lifted for the bullpen. He gave up four runs to the Braves in the process.
Because of that, it became an impromptu bullpen game. Thanks to King’s gem on Monday, the relief corps was ready for the task. Kyle Hart and Yuki Matsui covered two-plus innings apiece. David Morgan and Adrian Morejon pitched a perfect seventh and eighth. Mason Miller followed it up with two no-hit innings to put San Diego in position to walk it off.
The only problem is that now puts pressure on Sears to perform tonight. The bullpen is depleted, with just Jason Adam and Ron Marinaccio immediately available. Morejon and Morgan could pitch in relief (each threw less than 15 pitches on Tuesday night), but the likelier option is for Marinaccio to cover multiple innings for the Friars.
NBA Draft 2026 Day 2 discussion
The second round of the 2026 NBA Draft is tonight at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN. The Washington Wizards hold the No. 51 and No. 60 picks, or at least held them at around 6:40 a.m. ET when I wrote this first thing in the morning.
The Washington Mystics also play the Minnesota Lynx at 7:30 p.m. ET tonight on Monumental Sports Network. I think there will be some Wizards rookie sitting courtside. I just think there will be.
Enjoy chatting about the second round of the draft below!
NBA Draft, second round: start time, TV, streaming, radio, thread
Who will the Hawks add alongside Kingston Flemings and Zuby Ejiofor tonight at 57th overall (barring a trade)?
Please join in the comments below as you follow along.
Where, When, and How to Watch and Listen
Location: Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York, NY
Start Time: 8:00 PM EDT
TV: ABC, ESPN
Radio: Sports Radio 92.9 the Game (WZGC-FM)
Streaming: ESPN+, Fubo
Gamethread 6/24: Phillies at Nationals
Here are the lineups for the third game in Washington. Let’s discuss.
For the Phillies:
For the Nationals:
LIVE DISCUSSION: the 2026 NBA Draft, Second Round
The second round of the NBA Draft is on tap. A night after the Nets took Mikel Brown Jr. of Louisville at No. 6 and Joshua Jefferson at No. 28, they have the No. 43 pick Wednesday night
KEY INFO
WHO: The NBA
WHEN: 8:00 p.m. ET
WATCH: ESPN/ABC
Other than that Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum will do the honors at the podium, things are fluid. It’s uncertain what Brooklyn will do with the pick or if they will even use it or move up. Latest reports, as of 6:00 p.m. ET, is that as many as three of the top five picks in the second could be available as teams close to the cap, the first or second apron try to conserve cap space. If the Nets do wait til No. 43, the player they take may very well wind up as a two-way with the Long Island Nets.
Something else to look for tonight as the second round comes to an end: Teams start calling undrafted players and offer them non-guaranteed Summer League and/or training camp deals. Teams don’t usually announce those offers on Draft Night, but agents do!
32-49 chart
Rockies 8, Red Sox 6
Leverage index & box score
Graphics via FanGraphs.
What is it that makes you so handsome?: Troy Johnston, +0.20 WPA
Nails on a chalkboard: Justin Slaten, -0.27 WPA
Game discussion comment of the day
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Jalen Brunson isn't ready to say if he'll join Knicks at the White House
James Dolan is ready to take the NBA champion New York Knicks to the White House. Finals MVP Jalen Brunson isn't ready to say whether he'll be on that trip.
The Knicks owner, and longtime friend of President Donald Trump, said that the team has accepted an invitation to the White House. Brunson told New York Magazine the players had not even gotten to the conversation about it.
"We haven't discussed it," Brunson said. "But as a team, we'll discuss it and we'll cross that bridge when we get to it."
Dolan was pretty definitive on WFAN, the day before the championship parade.
"We just did receive an invitation from the White House, which we accepted," Dolan said. "We still have to figure out the details, et cetera, but yes, of course. Look, I invited the president to come down for the game. He is a friend. I've known him for 30 years and I'm very proud to bring the team to the White House."
Trump became the first sitting president to attend an NBA Finals game when he joined Dolan for Game 3. He sat in Dolan's suite and was booed the only time he was shown on the Jumbotron before the game. The Knicks lost that night, falling 115-111 to the San Antonio Spurs, snapping a 13-game winning streak. They went on to finish off the Spurs in five games and end a 53-year title drought.
Afterward, Trump congratulated the team on Truth Social, singled out Brunson and called the title maybe the greatest in basketball history.
Several champions skipped the traditional White House visit during Trump's first term, including the Golden State Warriors in 2017 and 2018 and the Toronto Raptors in 2019. Last year, the Oklahoma City Thunder passed as well, citing timing. In 2017, Trump withdrew the Warriors' invitation after Stephen Curry said he was reluctant to go and several players across those teams cited disagreements with Trump's politics.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jalen Brunson noncommittal on Knicks' White House visit with Trump
Red Sox let another late lead slip to Rockies, finish with .500 road trip
The Red Sox probably should’ve swept the lowly Colorado Rockies (though they’re pretty close to the same category these days). They should’ve at least won the series.
They couldn’t even do that.
Ranger Suárez struck out nine batters in six innings with solid run support. Instead of returning home to Fenway this weekend with a 4-2 record on the road trip thanks to series wins in Seattle and Colorado, Boston watched a 6-3 lead turn into an 8-6 loss in the final three innings Wednesday afternoon in a second embarrassing defeat this week.
Here’s three takeaways from Wednesday’s loss.
THANK YOU, COORS FIELD
The emphasis of the “Coors Field effect” should not take away from hitters who made a living there in the better Colorado days of yesteryear. Don’t diminish the accolades of great hitters in Larry Walker and Todd Helton to name a few.
With that said, there’s no doubt the ballpark can reward the below-average bat on a visit to Denver. Andrew Monasterio and Connor Wong graciously accepted that gift with home runs each in the matinee contest. For reference, Monasterio’s solo shot marked just his third long ball of the season while Wong homered for the first time since 2024.
That’s until the Rockies flipped the script in rough fashion for Boston over the final few innings.
KEEP AN EYE ON DURBIN
The Red Sox third baseman left the game with a left fifth finger subluxation after diving into first base attempting to beat out an infield hit. Romy Gonzalez is close to a return, but let’s see what the Red Sox infield looks like for the rest of the month depending on Durbin’s status upon the return to Boston.
CAN YOU DO SOMETHING AGAINST THE YANKEES?
The Red Sox are 1-4 against the Yankees and start the four-game set against New York with another installment of Connelly Early vs. Cam Schlittler.
The teams also still get the national spotlight, whether these teams are worthy or not, with a 1:10 p.m. start on Saturday on ABC (basically an ESPN game but cool to say) and round out the weekend on Sunday Night Baseball on NBC.
Derek Hill delivers thrilling homer as Phillies keep comeback magic going
Derek Hill delivers thrilling homer as Phillies keep comeback magic going originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
WASHINGTON — Derek Hill was down to the Phillies’ final strike.
Again.
One night after the Phillies scored eight runs with two outs in the ninth inning, Hill stepped in as a pinch-hitter against left-hander Richard Lovelady and delivered another late jolt.
Kyle Schwarber, out of the starting lineup with lower back tightness, came off the bench with two outs and worked a walk to keep the inning alive.
Then Hill took over.
He drove Lovelady’s pitch into the first row above the high wall in right field for a go-ahead two-run homer, then leaped in celebration between second and third base when he saw it had enough distance.
Unbelievable.
The Phillies acquired Hill in a trade to help against left-handed pitching, a matchup their right-handed hitters have struggled with all season.
He gave them exactly that in Philadelphia’s exciting 5-4 win on Wednesday.
It was another wild turn in a series that has already produced one of the Phillies’ most improbable wins of the season.
The Phillies had trailed early after Aaron Nola allowed solo homers in the first and second innings. Luis García Jr. took Nola deep six pitches into the game. Washington added another solo shot three pitches into the second.
But the Phillies answered in the fourth.
Brandon Marsh led off with a single. Alec Bohm reached on a fielding error after fouling a ball off his foot earlier in the at-bat and limping down the line.
Bryson Stott, coming off a three-hit game, got ahead 2-1 and turned on a low-and-in slider from Miles Mikolas. His 106.2 mph drive sailed over the head of Nationals right fielder James Wood, bringing Marsh home.
J.T. Realmuto followed with a sacrifice fly to score Bohm and tie the game.
Rookie Gabriel Rincones Jr. then jumped on Mikolas’ first pitch and lined a run-scoring single through the middle, giving the Phillies their first lead.
That type of inning has become a familiar sight during the Phillies’ turnaround. During their 9-19 start, they struggled to stack baserunners. Lately, they have found ways to build innings and keep them moving.
Nola did not dominate, but he gave the Phillies five innings and two runs.
He allowed hard contact. Of the 13 balls put in play against him, 54 percent were hit at least 95 mph. His average exit velocity allowed was 95 mph.
Still, he found enough outs.
Nola struck out four hitters with his knuckle curve and another with his changeup. He threw only one slider, a pitch he has begun mixing in over his last few starts.
The four-seam fastball remains his biggest concern. It entered the night tied for the worst pitch in baseball by Statcast run value at minus-13. Opponents were hitting .406 and slugging .828 against it.
But five innings and two runs kept the Phillies in the game.
Then former Phillies prospect Curtis Mead changed it.
With a runner on in the sixth, Don Mattingly turned to Jonathan Bowlan, who had dominated right-handed hitters all season. Entering the night, righties were slashing .167/.167/.214 against him with one extra-base hit.
Bowlan left a sweeper up.
Mead sent it into the left-field seats for his second homer in three games during the series, putting Washington back in front.
For a while, it appeared that swing would hold up.
Then Schwarber came off the bench.
Then Hill got his chance.
Lovelady was making his third consecutive relief appearance. Hill entered to pinch-hit against the lefty, the precise situation the Phillies had in mind when they brought him in.
With the count down to its final strike, Hill did not miss.
His homer gave the Phillies another late-game breakthrough, one night after the club turned an 8-6 ninth-inning deficit into a 14-9 win.
Winnipeg Re-Sign Former Top-14 Pick To Two-Year Extension
On Wednesday, the Winnipeg Jets made a move, betting on upside as they have agreed to terms with forward Isak Rosén on a two-year contract extension carrying an average annual value of $925,000, the team announced.
Rosén, 23, posted three goals and no assists in 21 games with Winnipeg last season after arriving in the Logan Stanley trade, and the organization clearly believes there is more to come from the former first-round pick.
Rosén came to Winnipeg as part of a trade deadline deal that sent defensemen Luke Schenn and Logan Stanley to the Buffalo Sabres. In return, the Jets received Rosén, defenseman Jacob Bryson, Buffalo's second-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft, and a conditional fourth-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.
The Swedish winger was a player Buffalo could no longer afford to keep buried, after being selected 14th overall by the Sabres in the 2021 NHL Draft. Rosén had built an impressive AHL resume over parts of four seasons with the Rochester Americans, totaling 185 points in 231 career games.
He was named AHL Player of the Month for November 2025 after posting 12 points in eight games, and led the Rochester Americans in goals with 25 while his 43 points ranked second on the club at the time of the trade. At the NHL level with Buffalo, however, consistent opportunities were harder to come by.
The Jets are taking on virtually no risk while keeping a restricted free agent that has flashed genuine offensive tools but has yet to see them translate to the NHL level. The two-year deal gives Winnipeg a chance to find out what Rosén is made out of and see if he can establish a consistent NHL role and show the organization what made him a first-round pick in the first place.
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Nashville Predators Trade Fedor Svechkov, Zach L’Heureux to Colorado Avalanche
Two of the Nashville Predators' young stars are headed out west as Fedor Svechkov and Zach L’Heureux have been traded to the Colorado Avalanche.
On Wednesday, the Predators announced that they had acquired center Jack Drury, winger Chase Bradley and a 2029 third-round pick for Svechkov and L'Heureux.
“Jack Drury is a hard-working, reliable, full-sheet of the ice center who can handle the tough assignments while being elite in the face-off circle,” MacFarland said in a press release. "His addition to our forward group bolsters our depth in the middle of the ice, and we’re thrilled to have him on our roster.
"We’re also excited to add Chase Bradley – another young forward who’s had some NHL experience – to our overall organizational depth at forward.”
TRADE 🔄
— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) June 24, 2026
We've acquired forwards Jack Drury and Chase Bradley and Colorado’s third-round pick in the 2029 NHL Draft from the Avs in exchange for forwards Zach L'Heureux and Fedor Svechkov.
Full details » https://t.co/JF0jIuTUdSpic.twitter.com/HdmNEw0Xet
The Predators drafted Svechkov in 2021, 19th overall, and he has played 122 NHL games, recording 12 goals and 22 assists for 34 points.
This past season, he had 17 points in 70 games and split time between Milwaukee and the Admirals, recording 8 points in 10 games with the Admirals.
L'Heuruex was drafted 27th overall by the Predators in the 2021 draft and has played in 87 games, recording nine goals and 11 assists for 20 points.
He started the year off in Milwaukee, scoring 28 points in 30 games before earning a promotion in Nashville. L'Heuruex had five points in 25 games.
Drury played in 82 games this past season with the Avalanche, scoring 27 points (10 goals and 17 assists) and had five points (three goals and two assists) in 13 playoff games.
The 5-foot-11-inch, 186-pound forward was drafted 42nd overall by the Carolina Hurricanes in the 2018 Draft.
Bradley has played in just two NHL games over the last two seasons. He played the entirety of the 2025-26 season with the Colorado Eagles (AHL), scoring 12 points (nine goals and three assists) in 42 games.
This is the third transaction in the 2026 calendar year that the Predators have executed with the Avalanche and the second general manager Chris MacFarland has made with his former team.
At the trade deadline, defenseman Nick Blankenburg was traded to the Avalanche for a 2027 fifth-round pick.
On June 16, forward Ross Colton and goaltender Isak Posch were traded to the Predators for a 2026 third-round pick, a 2027 third-round pick, and goaltender Magnus Chrona.
NBA Draft Day 2: Live Updates from the Barclays Center
It’s time for the second round of the NBA Draft. Follow along this thread and on @BrightSideSun on X/Twitter for the latest updates and insights on all things Phoenix Suns and the NBA Draft with staff writer Holden Sherman at the Barclays Center covering the event.
9:49 PM EST: Lot of trades, nothing Suns
Draft picks are flying left and right from city to city, but the Phoenix Suns are not involved in any of the deals. The Toronto Raptors are the only team who has their original second rounder.
9:06 PM EST: First big trade of the night
After acquiring five second rounders last night, the Grizzlies acquire Detroit’s backup big. Stewart infamously got into an altercation with former Sun Drue Eubanks during the 2023-2024 season.
8:28 PM EST: Second round has started
Houston, Memphis and Brooklyn make their selections with the the first three picks.
7:57 PM EST: Suns did not host Koa Peat for a workout
John Gambadoro has the scoop. Peat was establishing relationships with Phoenix even though they didn’t work him out.
6:56 PM EST: Sites from the podium
5:47 PM EST: Don’t expect any Suns picks tonight
After giving up the 47th pick as part of a deal to draft Koa Peat with the 30th pick last night, Arizona Sports insider John Gambadoro does not expect the Suns to make a trade into the second round. Phoenix selected Rasheer Fleming and Koby Brea last year with the 31st and 41st picks respectively. This is set to be the first time since 2022 the Suns don’t make a selection in the second round.
5:40 PM EST: On site
Almost two hours until the second round starts. Catch the action on ESPN.